Machines for forming cores of dowels used in the reinforcing of heels



April 23, 1963 L MACHINES FOR FORMING CORES 0F DOWELS USED Filed D80. 16, 1958 E. E. JolNER ETA 3,086,566

IN THE REINFORCING OF HEELS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ean/r B. Perri Peter R Per/ By their' Attorney 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aprll 23, 1963 E. E. JolNER ETAL MACHINES FOR FORMING CORES OF' DOWELS USED IN THE REINFORCING OF HEELS Filed neo. 1e, 195e April 23, 1963 E. MACHINES FOR F E. JOINER ETAL ORMING CORES OF DOWELS USED IN THE REINFORCING OF HEELS Filed Dec. 16, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 23, 1963 E, E, JOINER ETAL 3,086,566

MACHINES FOR FORMING CORES 0F DOWELS USED IN THE REINFORCING OF HEELS Filed Dec. 16, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 23, 1963 E.E..1o1NER ETAL MACHINES FOR FORMING CORES OF DOWELS USED IN THE REINFORCING OF HEELS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 16, 1958 April 23, 1963 E. E. JolNr-:R ETAL 3,085,556

MACHINES FOR FORMING CORES OF DOWELS USED IN THE REINF'ORCING OF HEELS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed DeC. 16, 1958 huw www

United States Patent() 3,086,566 MACHINES FOR FORMBNG CORES F DOWELS p USED 1N THE REINFORCING 0F HEELS Edgar E. Joiner, Andover, andLFrank B. Perri, Groveland, Mass.,.and Peter R. Perri, Atkinson, N.H., assignors to Fred W. Mears Heel Company, Inc., Lawrence, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Dec. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 780,750 Claims. (Cl. 142-17) This invention relates to machines for use in themanufacture of dowels ofthe general type disclosed inA United States Letters Patent No. 2,816,374, granted December- 17, 1957 on an application'iiled in the name of Edgar E. Joiner, Ir.

It has been found desirable to strengthen the dowels disclosed in said Patent No. 2,816,374 when such dowels are to be used for reinforcing extremely high pencilshank heels, the strengthening being effected by making theI cylindrical` cores of hickory insteadof birch and by slightly increasing the thickness of the steel jacket which is wrapped around and pressed into'saidcores.

In` the manufacture of dowels disclosed inl said Patent No. 2,816,374' the metal jacket is pressed substantially its full thickness in to the peripheral face of the cylindrical birch core` of the dowel. It will be appreciated that when cylindrical hickory cores are employed in the manufacture of dowels and the thickness of the steel jacket is greater than that disclosed in said patent, itis not feasible to press said jacket a distance equal to its full thickness into the core and accordingly it is desirable to reduce by a routing cut the diameter of the lengthwise median portion of a cylindrical core blank and thus provide a core having heads at its opposite ends spaced by a shank which may be described as forming with said heads a peripheral groove or slot into which is pressed the steel jacket, said jacket cooperating With the hickory core to provide the present dowel which is substantially stronger than and has all the advantages of the prior dowel.

With the foregoing considerations in view, it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for quickly and effectively reducing the diameter of the lengthwise median portion of the cylindrical hickory dowel core blank to provide a dowel core having at its ends, heads of the same diameter and having an intermediate shank of reduced diameter, it being desired that said heads and said shank form a circumferential groove of slightly less depth than the thickness of the steel jacket which is to be wrapped about and pressed into said shank.

With the above object in view` and in accordance with a feature of the present invention, there is provided a machine comprising'means for successively delivering cylindrical dowel core blanks to an operating or trimming station, spaced axially alined centralizing members adapted to be forced against opposite ends respectively of the blank at said station to aline an axis of said blank with a common axis of said members, opposed pairs of spindles which are rotatable about the -axis of said members and are adapted to 'be moved lengthwise of said axis against opposite ends of the core blanks, an end mill cutter rotatable about an axis disposed at substantially right angles to the common axis of said centralizing members and said spindles, said cutter being reciprocable lengthwise of its axis of rotation, means operative in response to movement of the cutter toward the axis of rotation of said members for first moving said members against the ends of the dowel core blank to centralize said blank with its axis in alinement with the axis'of said members `and said spindles and for then forcing the spindles into the opposite ends of said blank to rotate the blank asthe cutter moves toward the blank and prior to and during movement of the cut-ter against the blank, and means for limitlCe ing movement of the cutter toward the axis of rotation of the members and the spindles.

The cylindrical dowel core blanks are successively delivered from a hopper to radially disposed channels of a turret ring which indexes the blanks to the trimming station where the diameters of their lengthwise median portions are reduced to provide dowel cores such as above described, the dowel cores being automatically ejected from the channels of the turret ring as they are indexed successively to an ejector station.

The present invention consists in the above and hereinafter described novel features, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration, said invention being fully described in the following description and claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. l shows in perspective the illustrative machine for routing cylindrical core blanks used in the manufacture of heel reinforcing dowels;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the machine;

FIG. 3 shows a portion of the machine in front elevation;

FIG. 4 shows a portion of the machine as viewed generally along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section taken generally along the line V-V of FIG. 4, showing sleeves for centralizing dowel core blanks delivered to -a trimming station of the machine by a turret ring, and spindles for carrying said sleeves and for gripping said blanks as well as for rotating them as an end mill routing cutter is lowered against said blanks;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing details of the end mill routing cutter used in the machine;

FIG. 7 is a section on the line VII-VII of FIG, 5, showing details of mechanism for operating the core blank gripping spindles;

FIG. 8 is an illustrative veiw showing the dowel core blank in the process of being routed by the end mill routing cut-ter;

FIG. 9 is a section taken partly on the line IX--IX of FIG. 4 showing mechanism for indexing the turret ring;

FIG. l0 is a side view of a cylindrical dowel core blank which is operated upon by the illustrative machine;

FIG. l1 shows the dowel core blank after it has been operated upon by `the illustrative machine to form a dowel core;

FIG. 12 is a view partly broken away showing the dowel core illustrated in FIG. 11 after a metal jacket has been wrapped around and pressed into the periphery of a routed portion of said core; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic view which shows wiring and fluid pressure means for use in describing the operation of the machine.

The present invention is disclosed as embodied in a machine for routing a median portion of the periphery of a cylindrical dowel core blank 20 which is made of hard Wood for example, and is of uniform diameter, whereby to provide a dowel core 22 comprising an elongated reduced median shank portion 22a (FIG. l1), the periphery of which is centered about an axis 22b and which has at its ends heads 22C defined by cylindrical peripheries which are also centered about said axis, The dowel -core 22 is subsequently operated upon by machines such as disclosed in United States Letters Patent Nos. 2,836,218 and 2,880,777, respectively, granted May 27, 1958 and April 7, 1959 on applications filed in the name of Frank B. Perri to provide a composite dowel 24 (FIG. 12) comprising the core 22 and a metal jacket 24a which is wrapped about and pressed 3 into the periphery of the median shank portion 22a of said core, the ends of the metal jacket being substantially in engagement with the inner ends of the heads 22e of the core and having a periphery which is substantially ush with the peripheries of said heads.

The dowel core blanks 20 are fed in succession from a hopper 26 (FIG. 1) to a tube 28 and from said tube into a raceway 30 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) formed in the upper surface of a guide block 32 which is secured to a main frame 34 of the machine. The guide block 32 has pressed onto it a cover 36 which is of U-shaped cross section and which holds the core blanks 20 in the raceway of said block, a leaf spring 38 serving to hold said cover in place on the block. The lower end of the raceway 30 is arranged opposite an opening 40 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of a stacking tray 42 which has a vertical slot 44 shaped and arranged to receive a plurality of core blanks 20 in vertically stacked relation, the lowermost core blank in said vertical slot resting on an upper face 46 of a turret ring ring 48 while the ring is being indexed and until such time that it falls into one of a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial channels 50 which are formed in said face and are equidistant from each other. The turret ring 48 is supported in spaced relation to a circular plate 54 by a plurality of posts 52, said ring, said posts and said plate being secured together by screws 56 to forma composite turret. The circular plate 54 is rotatably mounted on a vertical post 6G fixed to a casing 62 forming part of the main frame 34, said plate being held on said post by a nut 58 threaded onto the post. As will be hereinafter explained, the post 60 has operatively mounted on it indexing mechanism which is shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 9.

The turret ring 48 with the core blanks 2()` mounted in its channels 50 is indexed to move said channels successively to a trimming or routing station 64 where a pair of centralizing sleeves or blocks or a pair of orienting members 66, which are slidingly mounted respectively on spindles 68, are moved toward each other together with said spindles to raise the core blanks arriving at the trimming station from engagement with the bottoms of the associated channels. Opposing end portions of the spindles 68 have reduced spool portions 68a (FIGS. and 8) which pass through recesses 69 in the sleeves. The spool portions 68a of the spindles 68 are provided at their opposing ends with projecting pairs of prongs 70. The spindles 68 are rotatably mounted in and are axially movable with inner and outer bearing blocks 72 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 7) which slide lengthwise of their common axis 74 toward and away from each other in guideways 76 of inner and outer housings 78 ixed to the main frame 34, whereby to cause the core blanks 20, the axes 22b of which at that -time are substantially coincident with the common axis 74 of the spindles 68, to be rotated about their axes preparatory to and while they are being operated upon by a rotary end mill tool or cutter 80 which is lowered to rout the median portion of the core blank at the trimming station 64. As the cutter 80 is raised after performing the routing operation the turret ring 48 is indexed through an arc equal 4to the distance between successive channels 50, the inner ends of the dowel cores 22 formed in the machine being tilted upwardly and out of the channels 50 by a cam 82 secured to a xed plate 84 as they are rotated by the turret ring 48 thereby causing them to fall out `of the slots and onto a chute 86 (FIG. 1). It will be noted that the plate 84 is provided with a circular recess 85 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 7) through which the cutter 80 passes.

The cutter 80 which is secured by screws 75 (FIGS. 3 and 6) to a cutter shaft 128 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) hereinafter described comprises three radial cutting blades 77 provided with cutting edges 79 which extend to an axis of rotation 81 of the cutter. It will be noted (FIGS. 2 and 5) that the axis of rotation 81 of the cutter 80 lies slightly to one side of the common axis 74 of the spindles 68.

In order to insure that the core blanks 20 shall not have a tendency to slide out of their desired oriented positions in the channels 50 of the turret ring 48 as they drop through the tray 42, for example, into said channels, there is provided an arcuate abutment 8'9 (FIG. 2) adapted to be engaged by the inner ends of the cores. Secured to the main frame 34 at the outer periphery of the turret ring 48 is an arcuate abutment 911 which is engaged by the outer ends of the core blanks 20j as they are being indexed thereby insuring that said blanks shall not be carried out of their oriented positions in the channels 50 by centrifugal force.

The bearing blocks 72 are slidable equal distances t0- ward and away `from each other in the housings 78, one of which is secured by screws 88 (FIG. 4) to the main frame 34 and the other of which is secured by screws 90 to the plate 84 which in turn is secured by screws 92 to said one housing, in timed relation with the lowering and raising respectively of the cutter 80, as will be explained later. The spindles 68 have secured to them pulleys '94 which are operatively connected by belts 96 to pulleys 918 secured to a shaft of a motor 102 adjust- `ably secured to the main frame 34.

rIhe inner and outer housings 78 have formed in them alined rectilinear guideways 10'4 in which is reciprocable a slide 106 having secured to it a lug 108 (FIG. 5) movable in an opening 110 of the inner housing 78 and secured to the associated block 72 in said inner housing. The outer end of the slide 106 has yformed in it a rack 112 (FIGS. 2, 5 and 7) meshing with a pinion 114 which is journaled for rotation in a recess '116 of the outer housing 78 and meshes with a rack 118 formed on the associated bearing block 72, the construction and arrangement being such that on reciprocation of the slide 106, by mechanism which will hereinafter be described, the bearing blocks 72 and their associated spindles 68 move equal distances in opposite directions lengthwise of the axis 74 of the spindles. The centralizing sleeves 66 are slidingly -mounted on the spindles 68 as above explained and form withshoulders respectively of the spindles recesses housing springs 122 adapted constantly to urge the sleeves toward each other on the spindles, movement of said sleeves on the spindles toward each other being limited by the engagement of the outer ends of slots 124 (FIG. 8) which are formed on the sleeves with pins 126 secured to the spindles. The opposing ends of the sleeves 66 and the spindles 68 may be referred to as jaws and the sleeves may be described as normally masking the prongs 70 of the spindles.

The cutter 80 is secured by the screws 75 to the shaft 128 rotatably mounted in a sleeve 130 which is slidable in a vertical guideway 132 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of a housing 134 forming part of the main frame 34 and has formed on it a rack 136 meshing with a pinion 13'8 secured to a horizontal drive shaft 140 rotatably mounted in bearing bosses 142 (FIGS. 1 and 3) of the housing. The cutter shaft 128 is rotated continuously by a motor 144.

The drive shaft 140 is operatively connected through a mechanical dwell control unit or overdriving coupling 146 to a shaft 148 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing housing 150 secured to the main frame 34. A pinion 152 secured to the shaft 148 meshes with a rack 153 of a connecting rod 154 secured to a piston 156 reciprocable in a cylinder 158 secured to the main frame 34.

The vertical sleeve y130 has secured to it by `a screw 160 a. collar 162 to which screw is attached a pair of springs 164 the upper ends of said springs being attached to the housing 134, said springs serving to balance to some extent the weight of said sleeve and its associated mechanism. The collar Y162 has a boss 166 (FIGS. 1 and 3) to which is secured a threaded stop bolt 168 which passes through :a notch of a projection 172 of thehousing 134 and has threaded onto it a stop nut 174 and a lock nut 176. Upward movement ofthe sleeve 130 in the vertical guideway 132 of lthe housing 134 is limited by the engagement of the piston 156 with a forward end 157 of the cylinder 158 and downward movement of the sleeve is limited by the engagement of the stop nut 174 with the projection 172 of the housing. The piston 156 has a constant stroke but the downward limit of movement of the sleeve 130 and accordingly the cutter 80 may be varied to therslight extent necessary, in accordance with the desired depth of the routing cut, the over driving clutch serving to compensate for the over driving of the connecting rod 154 when downward movement of the sleeve 130 is stopped by the engagement of the stop nut 174 with the projection 172.

The slide 106 has pivotally connected to it a link 178 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) whichis operatively connected to a lower arm of a bell crank lever 180 journaled on a bearing screw 182 secured to the main frame 34. Ihe upper arm of the bell crank lever is operatively connected to a link 184 which is provided with a slot 186 through which extends the screw 160 which serves to secure the collar 1'62'to the sleeve 130.

Secured to the outer housing 78 is a cylinder 179 (FIGS. 2 and 4) having a bore 1-81` in which is slidable a piston 183 having a face 185.- Seoured to the piston 1x83 isi a connecting rod 187 which passes through an opening 189 in a depending-ilange 191 of the link 178 andhas threaded onto it a nut 193. The cylinder has a port l195 connected to a line supplying air under pressure, a face 197 of the piston 183 at all times being open to exhaust.

The connecting rod 187 constantly urges the link 178 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 4, and unless prevented by engagementof the upper end of the slot 186 with the screw 160 moves opposite pairs of the sleeves 66 and spindles 68 toward each other. When the machine is at rest the screw 160 engages the upper end of the slot 186. Whenduring-the cycle of theV machine the sleeve 130 is lowered, Vthe connecting rod 187 immediately moves the link178 to the left (FIG.l 4) with the result that the spindlesV 68 move equal distancesA toward each other, conical faces 188 of the centralizing sleeves engaging opposite ends-'of the 4core blank 20and thus causing said blankI to be raised slightly fromA the Ybottom of its associated' channel 50, the axis 22b of the blank being movedr into substantial alinement-withthe common axis 74 of the spindles. A As the spindles 68 continue to move toward 'each other the sleeves 66 yield 0n the spindles against the action of the springs 122 and asthe sleeves continue to be forced againstr the core'blank, the prongs 70 on the spool portions68aA of the spindles are forced into the oppositeends` of said blank with the result. that the blank is rotated atV a speed-equal to that of the spindles.

Bythe time that` the cutter 80 engages the core blank 20, said blank has been centralized and gripped by the sleeves 66 and the spindles 68; As the cutter 80 continues downwardtoV rout the blank the screw 160 travels downthe slot 1-86- but never hits the bottom of said slot.

When the routing cut has been completed the cutter 80 is raised, the screw 160 which is raised with the cutter and the sleeve-130 riding upwardvalong the-slot 186. 4When thecutter iswell` 4above the workwthe screw 160 engagesrthe upper end ofthe slot 186 and movesY the pairs .0fsleeves` 66 `and 4spindles 68V away from each other against the action of the piston 183 to release the work which drops back into its associated slot 50. If desirable a spring- (not shown) may belused instead of -air to urg the piston 183 constantly to the left (FIG. 4). r

The'eindexingmechanism comprisesa ratchet 190l (FIGS. 4r and 9)--which `has circumferentially spaced notches 192 and is housed in the casingV 62 and which is secured by screws-201-to'the circular plate 54. A Supported on a face 203 of'thecasing -62 is aA swing plate 194, and interposedbetweenthe rachet 190` and theA swing. plate on the'one hand andthe vertical postA 60 on t-he other hand is a roller bearing 205. The swing plate 194 has fulcrumed to it a pawl 196 which is constantly urged clockwise on said plate, as viewed in FIG. 9, by a spring 198, said plate having mounted on it a depending cam roll 200 titting in a slot 202 of an actuator portion 204 of a connecting rod 206. Pivotally mounted on the casing 62 is a spring-pressed detent 208 for insuring against the ratchet moving rearward from its indexed position and also an impulse switch 210 having a plunger 212 actuated by a striker 194a carried by the plate 194. The striker 194a is pivoted on the swing plate 194 and normally held against a stop pin` 213 on the plate by a spring 215.

The connecting rod 206 is slidingly mounted in a bearing 214 secured to the casing 62 and has secured to it a piston 216 slidable in a cylinder 218 secured to said bearing. Secured to the cylinder 21'8 is a Valve 220 having a plunger 222 (FIG. 13) which is moved to its operating position shownin Afull lines, FIG. 13, by a rod 226 which is pivotally connected to the plunger 222 and has secured to it a piston 228 slidingly mounted in a bore 230 of a cylinder 232. The plunger 222 is moved to a dash position shown in FIG. 13r by a solenoid 234 operatively connected tothe plunger. The piston 228 has a face 236 which is open to a line 238 communicating with a port 240 of an air valve 242 having a bore 244 for receiving a slide 246 which has a pin 247 secured to it and which has a passage 248 and also a passage 250 leading to an exhaust port 251. The valve 242 has also formed in it a port 252 leading to a high-pressure air line 254. The slide 246 is normally moved to its position shown in FIG. 13 by a :spring 255, the air line 254 being closed olf from the line 238 which is open to the exhaust passage 250.

The actuator portion 204 (FIG. 9) 0f the connecting rod 206 is provided with a notch 256 -for receiving a rod 258 which is slidingly mounted in the casing 62 and is constantly urged to the left, as viewed in FIG. 9, by -a spring 260. Adjustably secured to the rod 258 is a block 262 which is engaged by the actuator portion 204 of the connecting rod 206 during retractive movement of the ratchet 190 and moves the rod 258 to the right against the action of the spring 260. The rod 258 has a threaded portion 258e to which is secured a striker plate 264 adapted, during the movement of the rod 258 to the right, FIG. 9, to engage the pin 247 of the slide 246 of the air -valve 242, causing said slide to move to a position in which the passage 248 thereof is open to the high-pressure air line 254 and connects this line with the line 238 which is open to the face 236 of the piston 228.

The slide 222 of the valve 220 has for-med in it a transfer passage 266 and exhaust passages 268, 268a and when the machine is idle the passage 266 connects a high-pressure air line 270 to a cylinder passage 272 open` to a -face 274 of the piston 216, a face 276 of the piston being open through a cylinder p-assage 280 to the exhaust passage 268g, and the piston 216 being in engagement Iwith the left end (FIG. 13) of the cylinder 218, the ratchet 190 having been indexed to its position shown in FIG. 9.

The cylinder 158 has associated with it a solenoid valve l282 comprising a plunger 284 which is slidable in a bore 296 of the valve and has formed in it a tansfer passage 2'98 and exhaust passages 300, 300m. When the machine is idle the transfer passage 298 registers with a high-pressure line '302 and with a cylinder line 304 open to a face 306 of the piston 156, and the exhaust passage 300 is in register with a cylinder passage 308 open to a lface 310 of the piston. 'I'he connecting rod'154 has secured to it a striker bar 312 provided with a bore 314 through which passes a rod 316 slidingly mounted in the main frame 34 of the machine, and threaded onto the rod is a nut 318, and secured to the rod is a collar 320, a spring 322 being interposed between the collar and the main frame. Secured to the rear end of the rod 316 is a cam 324 which, when the rodl is moved rearward, depresses a plunger 326 of an impulse switch 328. When the machine is idle the piston -156 engages the forward end 157 of the cylinder 158, the rod 316 being held in its position shown in FIG. 13 by the spring 322 and the nut 318 being spaced a substantial distance from the striker bar 312.

The machine is also provided |with an impulse switch 330 for starting the machine through its cycle after it has been idle, and is also provided with an impulse switch 332 for use in recycling the machine after it has been started and a :bar switch 334 which is used to stop the cycling of the machine.

Current is supplied from a main line 336 to the spindle operating motor 102 and to the cutter operating motor 144. Power for operating the means through which the cutter 80 is raised and lowered and the turret ring 48 is indexed is supplied from the main line 336 to a primary coil 338 of a transformer 340, a secondary coil 342 of the transformer being connected to a low-voltage circuit which is :powered by closing a switch 344.

When the machine is idle the cutter 80 is stopped in its raised position, the piston 156 being in engagement with ,the face l157 of the cylinder 158 as shown in FIG. 13 and the ratchet 190, 'which effects the indexing of the turret ring 48, Ibeingin its position shown in FIG. 9.

Preparatory to :starting the machine a main line switch 346 is closed and switches 348, 350l are then closed to start the motors 102, 144 whereby to rotate respectively the spindles 68 and the cutter 80. The switch 344 is also closed to power the low-voltage circuit of the machine.

It is assumed that the hopper 26 and the stacking tray 42 are supplied with dowel core blanks 20 iand also that core blanks rest in the radial channels of the turret ring 48 included between said tray and the trimming station 64.

A plunger 352 of the impulse switch 330 is then pressed causing a coil 354 of the `solenoid 234 to be energized with the result that the plunger 222 of the valve 220 is moved to its dash-line position in which its passage 266 registers Iwith the air intake line 270 and the cylinder passage 280, the exhaust passage 268 of the slide 222 being in register with the cylinder passage 272, High pressure air is now available for the face 276 of the piston 216 causing this piston to move to the right as shown in FIGS. 9 and 13.

As the piston 216 moves to the right it swings, through mechanism yabove described, the plate 194 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 9, about the vertical post 60, the pawl 196 being disengaged from its associated notch 192 of the ratchet 190 which at that time is held against retraction by the detent 208. As the actuator portion 204 of the rod 258 continues to be moved to the right it engages the block 262 and accordingly causes the rod 258 to force the :striker plate 1264 against the pin 247 of the air valve 242 with the result that the passage 248 of the slide 246 of this valve connects the high pressure air line 254 to the line 238, causing high pressure air to operate against the face 236 of the piston 228 to move the rod 226 to its position shown in FIG. 13. When the rod 226 is thus positioned the passage 266 of the slide 222 registers with the high-pressure line 270 and with the cylinder passage 272, the exhaust passage 26811 being open to the cylinder passage 280. Accordingly, movement of the piston li216 in the cylinder 218 will be reversed and the pawl 196 will be moved into engagement in one of the notches 192 of the ratchet 190 to index the turret ring 48 sufliciently to advance said ring through an arc equal to the distance between the core blank receiving channels 50. The block 262 may be initially 'adjusted on the rod 258 to vary the amount of indexing movement lof the ratchet 190'.

Just before the ratchet l190 reaches the forward end of its indexing movement the striker 19411 carried by the swing plate 194 depresses the plunger 212 of the impulse switch 210 causing a coil 356 of the solenoid valve 282 to be energized and the slide 284 to move t-o its dash-line position (FIG. 13) in which the passage 298 of the slide registers with the high-pressure air line 302 and with the cylinder passage 308 with the result that high-pressure air is available for t-he face 310 of the piston 156, the face 306 of the piston being open to exhaust. Accordingly the piston i156 slides to the right (FIG. 13) causing through mechanism above disclosed the vertical sleeve 130 and accordingly the rotating cutter to be lowered.

As the screw 160, attached to the collar 162 of the sleeve :130, is lowered, the connecting rod 187, 'which is `secured to the piston 183 and is constantly urged to the left, as viewed in FIG. 4, by air pressure, moves the spindles 68 toward each other causing the sleeves 66 first to centralize the core blank 20 located therebetween and thereafter the prongs 70 of the spindles to penetrate the ends of the blank to rotate said blank. During the iirst part of the downward movement of the cutter 80 and accordingly the screw 160, -the link 178 which is biased by the air-actuated piston 183 and mechanism above described, moves to the left as lviewed in FIG. 4, until the sleeve 66 centralizes and grips the dowel core blank 20 at the operating station and the prongs 70 of the spindle 68 penetrate said blank causing the same to rotate with the spindles. At this time movement of the piston 183 is stopped and as the sleeve continues to move down- Ward to lower the tool 80, the stud fwill ride down the slot `186 in the link 184 as the blank is being grooved. As the cutter approaches its raised starting position the screw 160 engages the upper end of the slot and moves the link 178 to the right (FIG. 4) against the action of the connecting rod 187 causing the pairs of spindles 68 and sleeves 66 to be moved away from each other iwith the result that the core blank 20 returns to the bottom of its associated channel 50. It will be understood that the air pressure applied against the face 185 of the piston 183 is suiiiciently great to operate the spindle 68 and the centralizing sleeve 66 but is not so great as to cause the dowel core blank to be broken by pressure applied against its opposite ends.

When the piston 156 has been moved a predetermined distance to the right (FIG. 13) the striker bar 312, by reason of its engagement with the nut 318, has moved the rod 316 to a position in which the cam 324 operates the plunger 326 of Ithe impulse switch 328 thereby causing a coil 358 'of the solenoid valve 282 to be energized to move the slide 284 back to its full line position shown in FIG. 13 in which the passage 298 registers with the highpressure line 302 and the cylinder passage 304, -the piston 156 reversing its movement and causing the cutter 80 to be raised -frorn the work back to its starting position.

As the piston 156 reaches the rear end of its retractive movement the striker bar 312 engages a plunger 360 of the impulse switch 332, the switch 334 at this time being closed, causing the coil 354 of the solenoid 234 again to be energized to initiate the next cycle of the machine. As the dowel cores 22 are indexed their inner ends engage the cam `82 causing Ithem to be tipped up out ofthe channels 50 and into the chute 86.

In order to speed the cycle of operation of the machine and better the control the trimming operation the striker bar 312, during portions of the ltrimming operation, may be operatively connected to a pneumatic check 362 (FIG. 1), the construction and arrangement being such that the cutter 80 is moved relatively slowly during the trimming operation but is moved relatively fast during the first part of its downward movement and during its upward movement.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for use in the manufacture of dowel cores, means operative against opposite ends of a Wooden cylindrical `dowel core blank for centering the opposite ends of said blank to orient said blank with its axis arranged in a predetermined fixed position, means operative against opposite ends of said oriented blank for rotating said blank about its axis, an end mill cutter which is rotatable about -a fixed axis disposed at right angles to the axis of the oriented core blank and which has projecting cutting blades extending radially of the axis of rotation of the cutter, means -for rotating the cutter about its axis, and means for moving the cutter lengthwise of its axis to reduce the diameter of a lengthwise median portion of said blank.

2. In a machine fOr use in the manufacture of dowel cores, driven rotary jaws movable into engagement with opposite ends of a cylindrical dowel core blank, which has an axis, and adapted to position said blank and to rotate it about said axis, means for rotating said jaws and for moving them ltoward and away from each other lengthwise of said axis, an end mill cutter which has a plurality of cutting edges and which is rotatable about an axis disposed at right angles to and oifset slightly at one side of the axis of the blank, means for rotating the cutter about its axis, and means for moving the cutter lengthwise of its axis -to reduce the diameter of a lengthwise median portion of the blank.

3. |In a machine for use in the manufacture of dowel cores, means for successively presenting cylindrical dowel core blanks to a trimming station, spaced centralizing members adapted to be forced aga-inst opposite ends of said blanks at said station to position said blanks, means yfor moving said centralizing members toward and away from each other, spaced spindles which are rotatable about a common axis and are movable lengthwise of said axis toward each other to seize opposite ends of said positioned blanks whereby to rotate said blanks, means for rotating said spindles, and an end mill cutter which has a plurality of cutting edges, means for rotating the cutter about a xed axis disposed at right angles to the axis of the spindles, and means for moving the cutter lengthwise of its axis to reduce the diameter of -a portion of said blank.

4. In a machine for use in the manufacture of dowel cores, opposite spaced spindles which are rotatable about a common axis and opposing ends of which are adapted to penetrate dowel cor-e blanks, centralizing sleeves which are movable with and are slidingly mounted on said spindles respectively lengthwise of said axis and which have concave faces respectively adapted to engage opposite ends of the core blanks, resilient means for normally urging said centralizing sleeves into positions in which their concave faces mask the opposing ends of the spindles, means for rotating the spindles and the sleeves, means for moving the rotating spindles toward each other causing the sleeves to centralize the opposing ends of the blanks and, by reason of their engagement with the blanks, to yield on the spindles against the action of said resilient means suiciently to cause the spindles to grip opposite ends of the blank whereby to rotate the blank about the axis of lthe spindles, an end mill cutter which has a plurality of cutting edges and is rotatable about an axis disposed at right angles to the spindle -axis and which is movable along the cutter axis toward the spindle axis to reduce the diameter of a lengthwise median portion of the blank, means for rotating the cutter, and means for moving the cutter lengthwise of its axis.

5. In a machine for use in the manufacture of dowel cores, a tray for Vreceiving dowel core blanks, a trimming station, a turret ring having a plurality of radial channels adapted successively to receive the blanks lfrom the tray, means for indexing the turret .ring to cause said channels successively to receive blanks from the tray and to cause the channels with blanks in them to be presented successively to the trimming station, opposing centralizing members which are rotatable about an axis, means Ifor moving the centralizing members toward each other to cause them to be forced against opposite ends of the blanks at 'the trimming station to position said blanks, opposing spindles which are rotatable about said axis, means Ifor moving the spindles lengthwise of said axis and toward each other to grip opposite ends of said positioned blanks, means forrotating the centralizing members and the spindles about said axis whereby to rotate said blanks, an end mill cutter which is rotatable about an axis disposed at right angles to the axis of the spindles and is movable along its axis toward the laxis of the spindles to reduce a lengthwise median portion of the blank, means for rotating the cutter about its axis, and means for operating in timed relation the turret, the cutter, the centralizing members and the spindles.

6. In a machine for 4use in the manufacture of dowel cores, a pair of spaced spindles which are rotatable about a common axis and opposite ends of which are provided respectively with members adapted to penetrate a cylindrical dowel core blank, sleeves which are slidingly mounted on said spindles and have concave faces respectively adapted to engage opposite ends of the core blank to centralize said blank, springs for normally urging said sleeves to masking positions beyond the blank penetrating members of the spindles, means for rotating the spindles and the sleeves, means for moving the rotating spindles and the sleeves toward each other causing said sleeves to position the opposing ends of the blanks and thereafter to yield with relation to the spindles to enable said penetrating members to grip opposite ends of the blank whereby to rotate the blank about the -axis of the spindles, an end mill cutter rotatable -about a fixed axis disposed at right angles to the spindle axis and movable along its axis toward the spindle axis to reduce the diameter of a lengthwise median portion of the blank, means for rotating the cutter, means for moving the cutter toward and away from the spindle axis, and means responsive to movement of the cutter toward the dowel core blank for causing the spindles to be moved toward each other to force said sleeves against opposite ends of the blank to orient the blank with lan axis thereof in alinement with the common axis of the spindles and thereafter to cause the blank penetrating members of the spindle to grip the blank for rotation with the spindles, said cutter as it rotates and moves toward said spindle axis being adapted to reduce the diameter of the lengthwise median portion o-f the blank.

7. In a machine for reducing the diameter of por-tions of cylindrical dowel core blanks for the reception of metallic jackets which are subsequently wrapped aro-und l and forced against said portions of reduced diameter, a

pair of spindles which are rotatable about an axis and Yare movable lengthwise of said axis toward and away from each other and which have opposing end portions provided respectively with prongs, orienting members which have opposing conical faces respectively and are mounted upon 4the spindles for rotation therewith and which are slidable lengthwise of said -axis on the opposing end portions of the spindles, springs -for normally causing the conical faces of the orienting members to project in masking relation beyond the prongs of associated spindles, means for rotating the spindles and accordingly the orienting members, and end mill cutter rotatable about `an -axis disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of the spindles, means for rotating the cutter, means for moving the cutter lengthwise of its axis of rotation, means for constantly urging the spindles toward each other, and means responsive to movement of the cutter toward the axis of the spindles for causing said fourth named means to move the spindles toward each other whereby to cause the conical faces of the orienting members irst to centraline an axis of the cylindrical dowel core blank presented thereto in alinement with the axis of the spindles and then to cause the prongs of the spindles to penetrate the ends of the blank causing said blank to rotate about its axis, said cutter as it moves toward the spindle axis and against the core blank reducing the diameter of a lengthwise median portion of the blank.

8. In a machine for use in the manufacture of dowel cores, a turret ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending channels adapted to receive a median portion of a cylindrical dowel core blank with opposite ends of said blank projecting beyond'said channel, means for delivering core blanks successively to the channels of said turret ring at a loading station, a trimming station, means for indexing the turret ring step-by-step to move the blanks delivered to said channels at the loading station to the trimming station, mechanism for orienting each of the cylindrical core blanks as it arrives at the trimming station and for rotating it about an axis of said blank, an end mill cutter rotatable about an axis disposed at right angles to the axis of the core blank, means for rotating the cutter about its axis, means for moving the cutter lengthwise of its axis to reduce the diameter of the median portion of the blank, means responsive to the indexing movement of the turret ring for moving the cutter lengthwise of its axis, and means responsive to movement of the cutter lengthwise of its axis for orienting and rotating the core blank.

9. In a machine for use in the manufacture of dowel cores, means `for successively presenting cylindrical dowel core blanks to a trimming station, a pair of spindles which are -arranged at said station and which are rotatable about a common axis and .are spaced lengthwise of said axis, said spindles having respectively at opposed ends thereof core blank penetrating members, sleeves which have core blank centralizing faces and are slidingly mounted respectively `on opposing end portions of the spindles, stops for Ilimiting movement of the sleeves in opposite directions on `the spindles, springs for const-antly urging the sleeves toward each other on said spindles into idle positions which are controlled lby said stops and in which their centralizin-g faces mask the blank penetrating Imembers of the spindles, fluid pressure means for constantly urging the spindles toward each other to cause said spindles to force the centralizing faces of the sleevesagainst opposed ends of the blank whereby to orient said blank with an axis thereof in alinement with the common taxis of the spindles 'and thereafter to cause the blank `penetrating members of the spindles to grip the blank for rotation with the spindles, an end mill cutter which is rotatable about an axis disposed at right angles to the common axis of the spindles and is movable along its axis of rotation and toward the axis of the spindles and against the blank to reduce the diameter of a lengthwise median render .the uid pressure means active to move the spindles said fluid pressure means inactive during the last part of the movement of the cutter away from said spindle axis.

10. In a machine for use in the manufacture of dowel cores, means for successively presenting cylindrical dowel core blanks to a trimming station, a pair of spindles which are arranged at said station and which are rotatable about a common axis and are spaced lengthwise of said axis, said spindles having respectively at opposed ends thereof core blank penetrating members, sleeves which have core blank oentralizing faces and are slidingly mounted respectively on opposing end portions of the spindles, stops `for limiting movement of the sleeves in opposite directions on the spindles, springs for constantly urging the sleeves toward each other Ion said spindles into idle positions 'which are controlled yby said stops and in which their centralizing faces mask the blank penetrating members lof thespindles, fluid pressure means for constantly urging the spindles toward each other to cause said spindles to force the centralizing faces of the sleeves against opposed ends 4of the blank whereby to orient said blank with an axis thereof in alinement with the common axis of the spindles and thereafter to cause the blank penetrating members of the spindles to grip the blank for rotation with'the spindles, a sleeve, an end mill cutter journaled in said sleeve for rotation about an axis disposed `at right angles to the common axis of .the spindles, means for moving the sleeve and accordingly the cutter lengthwise `of the axis of rotation of the cutter to reduce the diameter of a lengthwise median portion of the blank, and

mechanism openatively connecting with lost motion the vsleeves to the uid pressure means for rendering said fluid pressure means active to move the spindles toward each other to cause the core blank to be yoriented and rotated prior to and during the operation of the cutter on the core blank and for rendering said fluid pressure means inactive to cause the spindles to be moved away fromd each other after the cutter has operated upon the coreV blank.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 664,311 Bostwick Dec. 18, 1900 1,681,183 Heald et al Aug. 21, 1928 2,539,723 Branch Jan. 30, 1951 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DOWEL CORES, MEANS OPERATIVE AGAINST OPPOSITE ENDS OF A WOODEN CYLINDRICAL DOWEL CORE BLANK FOR CENTERING THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BLANK TO ORIENT SAID BLANK WITH ITS AXIS ARRANGED IN A PREDETERMINED FIXED POSITION, MEANS OPERATIVE AGAINST OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID ORIENTED BLANK FOR ROTATING SAID BLANK ABOUT ITS AXIS, AN END MILL CUTTER WHICH IS ROTATABLE ABOUT A FIXED AXIS DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE AXIS OF THE ORIENTED CORE BLANK AND WHICH HAS PROJECTING CUTTING BLADES EXTENDING RADIALLY OF THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE CUTTER, MEANS FOR ROTATING THE CUTTER ABOUT ITS AXIS, AND MEANS FOR MOVING THE CUTTER LENGTHWISE OF ITS AXIS TO REDUCE THE DIAMETER OF A LENGTHWISE MEDIAN PORTIUON OF SAID BLANK. 